Bumper



July 31, 192s. 1,678,916 F. C. ROBIE BUMPER Filed rb. e, 192s MMM@ mmm-mf Patented July- 31, 192e.

1,673,916 ENT-o`1-F1cE.

FREDERICK C. -ROBIE, F CLEVELAND, OI-IIC, ASSIGNOR TO THE EATON AXLE & SPRING V COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND; OHIO, A CORK'POBATION OF OHIO.

-isumrnn appui-.men med February s, 192e. serial m. 86,730;

This invention relates to automobile bumpers and has for one of its objects the provision of a bumper construction that will be economical to manufacture and have exceptional strength for the purpose of resisting impacts to which it may be subjected in service. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a bumper having a plurality of vertically spaced impact bars the endl portions of which are bent to the rear and inwardly and so connected as to form a rear reinforcing and supporting bar, the bumper consisting, essentially, o? are reversely arranged and, on accou tof their similarity, being adapted forecon mical production by the same manufacturing equipment.

Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty willbe apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of a bumper embodying my invention; Fig. 2 vis a front view of the same; Fig-..3 is a front view of one of the bars of which the bumper is made; Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

- Referring to the drawings 10 and 11 indicate the impact-receiving portions of two similarlly formed but reversely arranged bars which are spaced apart vertically as will/be seen from Fig. 2. The bar` 11 has a relatively short end 12 that is bent or looped rearwardly and then`inwardly, at one end of the bumper. The bar 1U has a short end 13' similar tothe end 12 but arranged at the opposite end` of the bumper. The bar 11 also has a relatively long end 14 which is looped or bent to the rear and extends linwardly and the Abar 10 has asimilar long end `15 the ends 14 and 15 being deflected .forwardly, as shown 'at 16 and17, respectively, into the plane of the impact-recelving portions 10 and 11,I at the middle thereof.v

The ends 12, 13, 14 and 15 are also bent or deflected vertically, adjacent the ends of the -bumper .and the short` end 12 of one bar 1s secured to the long end'15y of` the other bar by a bolt 18er4 any .other suitable vform of connection. Similarly the ends 13e-and 14 .are connetedby a bolt 19.

two similar parts that The ends 14. andi-15l are preferably ar'- ranged 1n abuttingd relation at the middle of the bumper and are connectedtogether by a plate 20 which is secured to the ends by The bolt 23 has a square portion 25 which en' gages with the V-shaped notches 26, in the ends 14 and 15, to hold the member 22 from turning. The space between the plate 20 and the member 22, that is occupied by the ends` of the bars 14 and 15, is slightly wider than the thickness of the bars o that the plate 20 and the'member 22 will be firmly clamped against the sides of the bars 10 and 11.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the bumper construction, which I have devised, will be of unusual strength because of the reinforcement of the impact-receiving bars by the back bar which 1s formed by the ends 14 and 15. The construction has the further advantage that, while the bars' are made from spring steel, they are so secured together and reinforcedthat they will not vibrate materially when in use. The similarity of the barsv 10 and 11 permits them to be manufactured by the same equipment, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost to a minimum.

At 27 and 28 I have indicated the ends of the automobile frame and it will be understood that the parts 14 and 15 will be secured' to these ends by suitable connections, that are well known in the art and are therefore not shown. l

`Having thus described my invention, what- I claim is:

1. In an automobile bumper, the combination of two parallel impact receiving bars spaced apart vertically and joined at thel ward sidesof said impact bars and a plate [bridging the rearsides ofthe impact bars, 'and a boltjoining said platesjand adapted .tov clamp. them tlghtly uPOn seid impact bars, said meeting ends being attached to 'ends' bent tothe rear of the bumper and then inwardly, the inwardly extending end @portions of said bars beingof di'erent 410 lengths, said bars being similar in shape but reversely' arranged, means for securing the shorter end of each barv to the longer end of l the other bar adjacent the ends of the bumper,'said longer ends extending to the middle of the bumper and being bent inwardly to a position between said impactl bars. and meeting substantiallyin the plane of said impact bars, a clamp comprising a plate bridging the forward sides of said impact bars and a second plate bridging the rear sides of the same, and a bolt joining said plates and adapted to clamp them tightly upon said impact bars, said meeting ends being attached to one of said clamping plates and spaced slightlyl from the other plate.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix/my signature.

FREDERICK C. ROBIE. 

